Dealing with Flood Damage

Whether you have one inch or one foot of water in your basement, you need to know how to clean up the mess. You should start clean up as soon as the water recedes.

For Your Safety

Be sure the electricity is turned off. In the case of severe flooding, do not use the electricity until a licensed electrician has checked your home.

When using a flashlight, turn it on prior to entering the house. Do not use matches or any type of flame until you are sure there are no gas leaks, and the area has been aired out. Check to see if the pilot light is out.

After outside flood waters have receded, drain only about 1/3 of the water in your basement initially. Outside pressure pushing against your basement walls can cause the basement walls to collapse. Start by pumping the water level down 2-3 feet, marking the level & wait overnight. If the water level goes up, wait 24 hours, and then repeat process.

Destroy all fresh or frozen food, medicine or cosmetics that have been in contact with flood water, as they may have been contaminated.

If you suspect your water supply is contaminated, you can have it tested by calling the Minneapolis Water Department laboratories at (612) 661-4999 or 311.

If any appliances were touched by flood water, have them checked by a qualified serviceperson before operating them.

For information about safety before and during a flood, see Flood Safety. Also see the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources web site about Flooding in Minnesota.

Cleaning up

Take pictures of flood damage and cleanup efforts. Photographs are extremely helpful in documenting flood damage for insurance purposes.

Keep track of how much of your personal time was spent on debris removal and cleanup.

Use a disinfectant, such as 1 part bleach to 32 parts water, to scrub walls, floors, household items and appliances – clean everything that got wet. Protective gloves and appropriate eye protection should be worn.

Make sure that heating systems are operable as soon as possible. You can use them to help dry out the basement.

Disclaimer: The items listed on this page are merely summaries of possible measures that can be used for dealing with flood damage. For more information about some specific how-to steps that you may want to consider, follow the provided links to other websites.

Last updated Jan 24, 2017

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Accessibility: For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats, contact 311. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users can call 612-673-2157 or 612-673-2626.